Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115290

Olivia Carter-Pokras, PhD, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 660 West Redwood St., Howard Hall, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-0463, opokras@epi.umaryland.edu

Maryland ranks 7th in the nation for foreign immigrants in the workforce, and one of five workers in the Baltimore-Washington area is an immigrant. A Community Based Participatory Research project incorporating both qualitative and quantitative techniques was conducted to identify and prioritize health and health care access issues for Latinos residing in Baltimore. Existing focus group data were analyzed, brief questionnaires were administered to 468 Latino adult attendees of a large Latino festival and 194 clients of a community health center, and in-depth interviews were conducted with Latin-American trained nurses. Topics included employment status, socio-demographics, language ability, literacy, health insurance and access to care, health status, health behaviors, unfair treatment, depressive symptoms, pain, and sleep. Findings were prioritized by the Latino Providers Network and Latino community in Baltimore. Latinos are found throughout Baltimore City. Sixty percent immigrated since the year 2000, and Mexicans are the largest subgroup followed by Salvadoreans. More than 70% of Latinos do not have health insurance, and one-third reported delayed care. One out of four women reported that they felt that doctors or medical staff had treated them unfairly or with disrespect because of their race or ethnic background. Education and literacy levels are low: 68% did not graduate high school, 59% do not read English, 15% read Spanish less than well, half did not understand everything the doctor said, and 85% find reading a prescription bottle difficult. Diabetes, hypertension, dental and mental health, binge drinking, and domestic violence were identified as top health concerns.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session, participants will be able to discuss implications for future health research and programs for new Latino immigrant workers.

Keywords: Latino, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation